Engines for the monte?

I've decided to throw in a 350/350 combo for a daily driver till i fix up and build up the rest of the car. After thats done though, i'd like to put in a big block and I want to know which one you folks think is the best bang for your buck. I was looking at the PAW long block 427 and 454 kits and I was wondering what you folks thought about them. I also have a line on a 396 from a wrecked chevelle and I'm wondering if that engine is worth building up. Any thoughts would be a huge help.

one thing to note... if you're going to be building that car up...

make sure your rear end has good gears in it for what you want...

my friends nova (450hp and 3.73 gears) killed this guys older monte (mid 80s) that had a 454 in it but 2 somethin gears...

it's important...

i would go for the 427 and build that... more b/c i like the number than anything else...

or build a 383 stroker motor... they're fun too...

Well, a good buildup on a 350 is a Summit 383 rebuild kit. Gives you about 10:1 compression, and with the right exhaust, intake and other things, you could make over 400hp from that.

Any big block Chevy is a great engine, and has about as much potential as you could want. If the 396 is already pretty built, it would be a good choice. Buying a new engine outright can be pricey, and you don't always get the best build quality.

Build up of the 350 would be the most inexpensive route due to the sheer number of 350's out there, and the vast aftermarket support that it posesses. I think the 454 would come in second as most inexpensive...

I would get a chevy 400 (basically overbored 350), and put some RV cams, timing gears, welded exhaust, and move on from there.

Well, it all comes down to your budget... For $2000, you can build an all right smallblock from your 350. Of course, if you're going with a $4000 build, you really can't beat a big block. For that kind of money, you could have a 454 with aluminum heads, maybe 550hp.

CBass, for $2200 you can buy a GM Vortec 350 crate motor. 330hp, 380ft-lbs. :)
Vortec 350 (http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?action=prod_detail&catid=120&pid=115)

Plus it comes with a Warranty. Unlike Junkyard specials.


If we're talking about a brand new Big block, no way can you get a aluminum head big block for $4000. The heads alone cost near $2000 for a set.. if not more. If you're talking about a junk-yard Big block then what you'll most likely find is a 454 from an old truck.

It'll most likely need a rebuild and that costs $1114 through P.A.W.

That includes:
Forged Pistons & Pins
Rod & Main Bearings
Timing Chain set
Piston Rings
Connecting Rods
Crankshaft
Oil Pump
Camshaft and lifters
Gasket Set


Mind you, everything in that list is stock replacement. Except the Forged pistons.

Figure $500 for a boneyard 454
1114 for master rebuild
200 for intake
450 for distributor & electronic ignition system
250 for new camshaft
400 for a carb big enough to feed it
Aluminum Big Block heads will run you anywhere from $700-1500 per head. Lets say $900.
1800 for Aluminum heads
So far thats $4714... which doesnt include Valve covers, Oil pan, water pump, timing chain cover, headers, starter, flexplate (if going auto), harmonic balancer, flywheel... and a few other odd ball things.

Albeit the motor should make upwards of 500hp easy with room to improve upon, its going to cost a shitload.

Thats the #1 reason why I didnt go Big Block for my car. Costs way to much to get reliable horsepower. If you want to do a j-yard special thats fine but dont expect it to hold up for long.


Of course thats just my opinion... and what do I know right?

Thanks fer the input guys. The PAW kit I'm talking about is the whole motor in pieces so you build it yourself. What kind of power would I be looking at for the 427 and 454 out of the box.

Well.... Hard to say.. but if it's stock internals with Cast Iron everything.

330hp 420ft-lbs?

Thats what the Motor produces in my Moms Boat... a Stock 454 from 1978. 330hp 420ft-lbs. Thats an emissions free motor thats economical. Of course we burn about 10 GPH (Gallons per Hour).

Swap the Cam, Intake, Carb, Exhaust Manifold, Mild Heads... gain a 100hp/100ft-lbs off that? Sky's the limit with Big Bitches. Just gotta have deep pockets.


Happy Trails.

You make very good points. I was talking about taking a junkyard 454, most likely out of a truck, and building it with aluminum heads... Also, why I mentioned if the 396 was fairly built, it might be a good choice. If it's already a 10:1 compression engine with a good cam, and he adds a set of good heads to that, he could make some good power.

As Redneck says, the sky is the limit with a big block, but be prepared to pay for what you get. There is no such thing as a cheap big block, even a junkyard special.

Smallblock is the way to go if you're going for a complete build at a reasonable cost. What did your 383 build cost? $3-4K? That's about what it would cost to buy a crate engine, and yours makes a lot more power.

3k-4k for my motor? You shitting me?!? hahaha

My 383's Long Block cost me $2700. My speed shop is cheap for the ammount of power you get out of them.


haha 3k-4k for a motor.. psshh I'm a redneck.. not some Bling Bling guy. :D

That's $2700 for the long block, what about intake, carb, headers etc... Just looking for a basic dollar figure for a similar build.

Yeah, $2700 isn't too shabby for a built engine!

hmmm lets see...

$2700 for long block
200 for my Intake (Edelbrock AIRGAP Performer RPM)
450 for my Ignition system w/Rev Limitor & Distributor (both MSD)
400 for my Carb (Holley 750cfm Doubple Pump, Mechanical Secondaries)
300 for my Headers(Hooker Super Comp Headers 1.625")
___
4050 total for just the main motor components... all the rest of the crap is piddly stuff compared to the main part.


Gosh i've spent that much? Sheesh...

OWNED! :hehehe:

What sorta redneck pays $4k for an engine? You sound more like one of them L.A. city slickers to me... ;)

Ha..

I could of opted for the Turn-key Motor for $3100 and be done.

But I opted for the Long Block, to add my own goods... in hopes of making a bit more power than advertised with their setup.

And I was refering to paying 4k for just a crate motor. Mines custom... :rolleyes:

What kind of gas mileage does that 383 get? That might be a better Idea for a daily that still flies:)

no, no, no! All's you need is two numbers in 3 different spots....

4_5_4! Click!

Small block is the way to go if you're on a budget.

The good news is, buying a crate engine, you have a completely fresh start, and a brand new block :D

That Vortec smallblock looks like a mighty good deal, especially for the money... That would probably be the best place to start from, you can always upgrade it later.

Doesnt the crate come with the warrantee also?? My friend just had one of the "truck" crate engines dropped in his mid 80's Jimmy.. He loves it. And it looks cool.

Depends on the engine, but the Vortecs come with a 3 year warranty, don't they?

"GM Performance Parts crate engines carry a 12 month limited, parts only warranty. Parts are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship. This warranty specifically excludes engines and partial engines used in racing, any competition or marine use and parts that fail as a result of alteration. Should any part prove to be defective, that part and only that part may be warranted at the discretion of General Motors. The buyer assumes full responsibility for the cost of repair, service, damage and/or loss to property. Unless specified by GM, these engines should only be used in 1973 and earlier pre-emissions vehicles. It is the buyer’s responsibility to check for any state and Federal laws concerning engine replacement, modification and emissions regulations."

-- GM

Pick your GM Warranty'd Poison (http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?action=catalog_start&catid=120)